Soil Types

Soil and types of soil.
 

 
Soil is a mixture of broken rocks and materials, living organism, and decaying organic matter called humus. Humus is dark, soft and rich in nutrients. Soil also includes air and water. All living things in the soil, plus essential materials that these organism use to survive from the soil’s ecosystem.
 
Soil profile
 
There are different types of soil, each with its own set of characteristics. Note: When you dig down deep into any soil, you’ll see that it is made of layers or horizons. When you put the horizons together, they form a soil profile.
 
Types of soil
 

 
There are three types of soil. These are sand, silt and clay. Note: Most of these soils are composed of a combination of the different types. How the soils are mixed will determine the texture of the soil, or in other words, how the soil looks and feels.
 
Sand
 
One type of soil is sand. Sand is actually small particles of weathered rocks. Sand is fairly coarse and loose, so water is able to drain through it easily. While it is good for drainage, it is not good for growing plants, because sandy soil will not hold water or nutrients.
 
Silt
 
This is another type of soil. Silt can be thought of as fine sand, and will hold water better than sand. If you were to hold a handful of dry silt in your hand, it would feel almost like flour; and if you were to add water to the silt in your hand, it would do a fair job holding the water and feel smooth.
 
Clay
 
This is a very fine-grained soil. It particles are even smaller than silt, so there is very little space between the tiny grains for air and water to circulate. Therefore clay does not drain well or provide space for plant roots to furnish.
 
Loam
 
This soil is a combination of sand, silt and clay. Loam will vary depending on how much of each component is present, but gradually if you are a gardener, this is the type of soil you want, because it holds moisture but also allows for good drainage.